Whether you like winter sports or just want to wake up surrounded by a white landscape and enjoy a winter panorama, the motorhome is an ideal way to live an experience in the snow. We give you some tips to do it safely and we propose some interesting destinations where snow will be the protagonist.
7 tips to enjoy the motorhome in winter
When we travel in winter to cold and snowy places, before starting our trip, and to avoid unwanted surprises, it is important that we take into account a number of things. Let's see what they are:
- Check that the heating works. Arriving at a place with low temperatures and realizing that the heating does not work is not a dish of taste. Therefore, we must check before leaving that it works without problems and that we have full propane bottles (or the energy used by our heating system).
- Winter wheels or chains. It is possible that we have to drive on roads with snow or even ice. For this reason, it is necessary to bring winter wheels or, failing that, chains, to avoid being stranded at some point during the trip. In many mountain areas, the authorities will require that we carry one of the two items to gain access.
- A battery "booster" can always get us out of trouble. In the winter time there are fewer hours of light, the heating works for more hours a day and the solar panels charge less than in summer. Carrying a "booster" or starter can get us out of trouble at some point.
- Keeping the solar panel clean. Especially if it has snowed, we will try to remove the snow from the solar panel, in order to improve its performance.
- Thermal insulators always help. Although, today, vehicles tend to be quite well insulated, the front window and the pilot and copilot windows are usually the areas where the coldest enters, so thermal insulators, whether interior or exterior, can contribute to improving interior comfort.
- Beware of external tanks with sub-zero temperatures. If our water reservoirs are not insulated, we may wake up one morning after a night with freezing temperatures and have frozen. For the gray water tank, some tricks are to add a few handfuls of salt or a little antifreeze to avoid this.
- A good Nordic to sleep on. Whether we want to save a bit on heating or if we have to be prepared for a possible breakdown, bringing good duvets for the beds is a good idea. Of course ... we run the risk of not wanting to get out of bed in the morning.
And now ... let's go with the destinations!
Sierra Nevada (Granada)
If you are a fan of skiing, Sierra Nevada it provides one of the largest and most attractive ski areas in southern Europe. The winter resort has 110,4 skiable km distributed in 131 slopes with the highest skiable unevenness in Spain (1.200 meters).
If you prefer to walk alone, it has a multitude of areas for hiking through natural landscapes, while enjoying the views of the highest peaks of the Iberian Peninsula, the peaks Mulhacén y vane. And just half an hour away you can visit the impressive city of Granada, highly recommended for both its cultural and gastronomic options.
Sierra Nevada has an area of parking and overnight for motorhomes, The Sabines, which, although it does not have services, does have an urban bus stop.
Aragonese Pyrenees
The natural set of Aragonese Pyrenees is another great option to make a winter getaway in motorhome. Large massifs and valleys, extensive forests, small lakes and high mountain meadows are some of the landscapes that we can enjoy, without forgetting its stone villages and the ancient heritage that it treasures. In addition, we will find a huge range of possibilities for practicing mountain sports and hiking.
We can choose between Valleys of Hecho and Ansó, Aragon Valley, Valley of Tena, National Park of Ordesa and Monte Perdido, Chistau Valley, Valley of Benasque and Valleys of Alto Noguera Ribagorzana, in addition to the pre-Pyrenean mountain ranges, as in Sierra de los Cañones de Guara Natural Park.
Aragon has six alpine ski resorts, with 390 skiable kilometers, four of which are in Huesca, Astún y Candanchú, in the valley of Aragon, Formigal-Panticosa, in the valley of Tena, and Cerler, and two others in Teruel, Javalambre y Valdelinares. It also has eight Nordic spaces where you can practice activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing or cross country surrounded by a dreamlike natural environment.
Many of these ski resorts allow the overnight in the motorhomes in some of its car parks. Some even have an area with services, such as the Cerler station. And in the town of Benasque We also find a motorhome area with services, just 5 minutes from the town center. And they are just some of the options to sleep in this area.
Andorra
El Principality of Andorra It is an ideal destination to enjoy the snow, both as a couple, with friends and family. It has three major ski resorts: Grandvalira, Vallnord y Ordino, in addition to other skiable areas.
Grandvalira It is the largest ski resort, not only in Andorra but also in southern Europe. Dispose of 7 sectors: Encamp, Canillo, El Tarter, Soldeu, Peretol, Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa. In the sectors of Grau Roig y el Tarter can stay for free with the motorhome but no type of service is available. In El Tarter, parking is limited to 48 hours.
For its part, Vallnord - Pal Arinsal open 10 months a year. From December to April the station is ready for skiing, as it has two sectors, Pal and Arinsal, with more than 63 km of slopes adapted to all levels. From May to October it becomes Vallnord Bike Park La Massana, a benchmark in the Pyrenees. In addition, it has a Mountain Park, a unique environment for family activities during the summer. The Motorhomes can park in the car park in the Caubella area a maximum of 48h. There is a part enabled for the prnocta, although it does not have services.
Finally, the station Ordino Arcalis is next to Sorteny Valley Natural Park, one of the most beautiful places in the Pyrenees. It is a perfect place to do snowshoe circuits and mountain skiing. The station offers other activities, such as snowmobiling or even helicopter flights. In the village of Ordino there is a small motorhome area with services.
If you are looking for a more urban environment, you can get closer to its capital, Andorra la Vella, where you can do shopping, relax for a while in the Caldea thermal center or enjoy the gastronomy. In the city you can spend the night in the Camping Valira or River RV park, in Sant Julià de Lòria, about 8 kilometers from the city.
French pyrenees
The last winter destination that we propose is also located on the other side of the border, in neighboring France, a paradise for lovers of snow and white sports. In this wide area you can find more than 1.000 ski slopes and up to 15 thermal centers, with peaks as emblematic as Pic du Midi, Midi d'Ossau, Grand Tourmalet or the glacier circus of Gavarnie, among others.
We recommend a visit to Pont d'Espagne, the gateway to Pyrenees National Park, at 1.500 meters of altitude, one of the great jewels of the region. From there you can take a chairlift to go up to the Gaube Lake and enjoy some really incredible landscapes. The overnight stay in a motorhome can be done in the town of Cauterets, which has 30 places and all services. In the town there is also a well-known thermal center, The Baths of the Rock.
Another essential area is the Grand Tourmalet, which has a ski resort with more than 100 km of slopes. From the town of La MongieIn addition, you can take the cable car that leads to the Pic du Midi, at an altitude of 2.877 meters, from where to observe a spectacular panoramic view over the Pyrenean chain. And do not miss the visit to Lake Payolle, from where you can see the snowy peaks that surround it, or ascend to the Aspin pass, a really beautiful natural area.
If you prefer the spa atmosphere, it is very close Bagneres de Bigorre, known thermal station distinguished by its physical-chemical properties with therapeutic benefits.
In La Mongie you can spend the night (without services) in one of the ski resort car parks. And very close to Lac de Payolle you have a motorhome area, Les IV Veziaux, with all services, including bathrooms and washer and dryer area.
What do you think of these destinations? Difficult to choose, right ?! Winter is long, so… why not visit them all? Remember that, if you do not have a motorhome, you can visit our section of "Rental" and reserve one of our vehicles to enjoy any of these winter paradises.